ROBODEX 2003 Shows Humanoid Bots, Astro Boy
ROBODEX 2003, a four-day exhibition featuring various robots, was held at the Pacifico Yokohama in Yokohama April 3-6. The robots on display included pet robots, ASIMO and other human-shaped robots, and some others with different purposes. Many robots were seen with various capabilities for doing household chores. Housekeeping robots were also abundant. They are less than one meter high. Many of them had an adorable design with practical capabilities. Such capabilities included climbing over steps with dexterity and monitoring a residence while its owner is away from home. The house-sitting robot MARON-1 [has] adorable eyes. It measures some 30cm wide x 30cm high, a size small enough for household use [and is] remotely operated with a mobile phone handset. CONTINUE
COMMENTARY: Robotics and wireless are an interesting intersection of technologies and this is one of the first times I’ve seen mention of a keitai-controlled ‘bot at Robodex. Doubtless, wireless control will expand as robots become more mobile. One of Honda’s walking bots can now attain 3 kilometers per hour. We didn’t cover this as a WWJ video program, but video producer Lawrence Cosh-Ishii did swing by to grab some footage. You can see the celly-controlled robot as well as many others on his site at Video-Link.com.